This area studies accounts of the interrelations between religion, ethics, and politics from ancient Greece to the modern West. Areas of concentration include: the history of political philosophy; analysis of literary expressions of an understanding of religion, ethics, and politics; study of critical social and ethical theories with reference to the underlying theological and philosophical anthropologies.

Research in religion and culture is primarily concerned with the anthropology of religion. Students acquire a thorough knowledge of the historical development and contemporary theoretical approaches of the field through their coursework. Students majoring in the area have worked on a range of topics, such as, religious healing, death rituals and religious feminisms.

This area covers philosophy of religion, theology, and ethics (Islamic, Jewish, Christian, secular) in the classical and modern periods. Areas of specialization include the interrelations between philosophy and religion, hermeneutical and critical theory, secular challenges to religious thought, modern theology, and ethics. Course work and comprehensive examinations include both historical-systematic-comparative studies of perennial theological and philosophical themes and specialized contemporary topics.

Religion and culture focuses primarily on the anthropology of religion. Students acquire a thorough knowledge of the historical development, contemporary theory, and methodological approaches of the field. Graduate students have pursued research on a range of topics, such as, religious healing, death rituals and religious feminisms.

The Islamic studies area focuses on the study of Islamic texts and peoples. Courses cover a range of topics including Qu’ran and Hadith, modern Islamic movements, Islamic fundamentalism, Islamic feminisms, and Islam and globalization. We also offer the opportunity to study Arabic.